15th Edition of Great Indian Travel Bazaar Underway; Rajasthan Aims to Become Global Tourism Hub

Jaipur, April 2026: The 15th edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) is set to run until April 28, with its exhibition scheduled to be inaugurated on April 27 at 11 a.m. at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC). The event will witness participation from over 50 countries, with foreign tour operators attending as buyers, alongside representatives from India’s tourism ecosystem.

The event is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Rajasthan Tourism (host state), various state tourism boards, hotels and resorts, and destination management companies (DMCs) from across the country.

Addressing the inaugural session at Hotel Jai Mahal Palace, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari said the state government is committed to positioning Rajasthan as a world-class tourism destination. She emphasised that GITB is not merely a tourism event but a platform for partnerships, expansion, and global opportunities.

Highlighting the broader vision, she said that tourism has emerged as a key driver of development, employment, and cultural confidence, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” Rajasthan’s tourism sector, she noted, supports millions of livelihoods and plays a crucial role in inclusive economic growth.

She further stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, tourism is being developed as a “growth engine,” with a focus on transparency, private investment, and sustainability. With its lakes in Udaipur, deserts of Thar, forts of Jaipur and Chittorgarh, UNESCO World Heritage sites, wildlife destinations, and over 660 heritage havelis, Rajasthan is rapidly moving towards experience-based tourism.

Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said the state is emerging as a year-round tourism destination, not only because of its heritage but also due to investor-friendly policies, streamlined processes, and robust infrastructure. He highlighted opportunities across heritage tourism, desert circuits, wildlife experiences, wellness tourism, faith-based travel, rural tourism, and eco-tourism.

Additional Secretary and Director General in the Ministry of Tourism, Suman Billa, said India aims to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP from 5.2 percent to 10 percent over the next decade. He pointed out that the country has seen rapid infrastructure growth, with airports increasing from 75 in 2014 to 150, and significant improvements in rail connectivity. Domestic tourist visits have surged from 1.5 billion to 4 billion between 2014 and 2025, while foreign tourist arrivals have doubled.

Tourism Secretary of Rajasthan Shuchi Tyagi noted that the state is focusing on integrating policy, investment, and local participation. She said GITB aims to bridge the gap between policy and market by connecting global buyers with local stakeholders, including guides, transport operators, self-help groups, and eco-tourism initiatives.

FICCI’s former president Jyotsna Suri highlighted that GITB has become a leading global inbound tourism marketplace over the past 15 years, strengthening public-private partnerships. FICCI Secretary General Anant Swarup added that the event will facilitate over 10,000 pre-scheduled B2B meetings, further cementing its position as a premier tourism platform.

The inaugural ceremony also featured the release of a FICCI-EY knowledge paper titled “Reimagining Inbound Tourism in India,” focusing on trends, technology, and transformational opportunities.

Adding cultural grandeur to the event, a special performance themed “Ekam – The Spirit of Oneness” showcased India’s unity in diversity through classical and folk dance forms, leaving the audience captivated and setting a vibrant tone for the global tourism gathering.